Why India Needs Its Own Startup Reality Television Series

The boom in the startup ecosystem is in sync with the Internet penetration happening in India, which is still in its growing phase. Whereas cable television penetration is huge, almost 4 times more than the current Internet penetration. Also, this medium of mass communication influences people at all levels of the society.

Roadies, Splitsvilla, Masterchef etc. are some of the popular reality TV shows, which gather people on one platform and garner nationwide viewership. One it affects the lives of not only the participants but also inspires others to join in the competition.

So why not have India’s own reality television series about the startup world! Why not pace up the revolution which has started with a bang and let it grow systematically?

In USA there is reality television series which is known as Shark Tank, which has inspired thousands to start their own venture and fulfilled the dreams of many! So what is Shark Tank about? It is an American reality television series produced by Mark Burnett. The show features a panel of potential venture capital investors, called “sharks”, that considers offers from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking investments for their business or product. A one-hour pitch by the entrepreneur is edited down to “a dramatic 10-minute segment” for the episode. The entrepreneur can make a deal on the show if one or more of the sharks are willing to match or exceed the full investment amount they asked for, but if all of the sharks opt out the entrepreneur leaves empty handed. Let’s see how people pitch their ideas on the show.

The show came to India in January this year on Colors television channel, but featured the same entrepreneurs & episodes as that in the West.

Till now we keep on reading about merger & acquisitions, fundings, ideas, pitches, exits, new startups etc in newspapers or via internet publishing channels, solely described in words. No one knows what happens behind the scenes, what struggles they face to reach certain stages and we as audience, just keep liking, commenting or sharing it on Facebook or other channels. So basically the soul behind news is missing and not felt by readers.

The reality shows make it lively and interesting like never before. If a few VCs take up this challenge and give a push to reality show makers on similar lines as the Shark Tank Series, making their investments live in front of TV, it will inspire more & more youth in India to start up. It will showcase skills which will remain hidden and unseen otherwise, they will know & understand about their ideas, evolve them and rise on hopes that there are mediums existing in today’s age to fuel their ideas along with mentoring.

Internet is still in growing stage and nascent in rural area, but language conveyed by TV is understood much better in India. Entrepreneurs in tier-II & III cities will see the available options for financing beyond bank loans which are seen as huge burdens.

Entrepreneurship is an endless art. It starts with dreams, brings an un-real thoughts, un-imaginable visions with beautiful colors entangled in it. Executing the same gives toughest existence of life. The saga of entrepreneurship will never end, until the word “Idea” stops ruling our brains and becomes a reality. Consistent war of mind, body & soul keeps the passion alive.